Wheelbarrow stand with tilt leveling mechanism

ABSTRACT

A tilting mechanism incorporated into a conventional wheelbarrow, the wheelbarrow including a bucket portion, a pair of elongated handles supporting the bucket portion, and a front wheel. The tilting mechanism includes a frame adapted to being secured to a rearwardly extending location of the elongated handles and such that the bucket portion is disposed between the frame and the front wheel. A pair of elongated supports are incorporated into the frame and, in combination with the front wheel, support the wheelbarrow upon a surface. The frame includes structure for establishing an angle or incline, relative to an uneven or peaked surface, and is actuated to facilitate tilting of the bucket portion about a longitudinal axis extending through the wheelbarrow.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to wheelbarrow supportand adjustment devices. More specifically, the present inventiondiscloses a wheelbarrow stand incorporating a tilt leveling mechanismfor providing a compensating and sideways tilting support to thewheelbarrow when supporting on an angled or pitched surface, such as aroof.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] The prior art discloses a variety of wheelbarrow support andtransport mechanisms. In particular, the prior art discloses a varietyof mechanisms for supporting and pivoting a bucket portion of thewheelbarrow.

[0005] A first example of this is set forth in Eicher, U.S. Pat. No.6,390,496, which teaches an adapter apparatus for assisting intransportation of a wheelbarrow and which teaches the forward pivotingof the load carrying container portion of the wheelbarrow. Bisaillon etal., U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,708 teaches a steer-support mechanism for awheelbarrow and incorporating a pair of “L” shaped axles carrying wheelsand which is rotatably mounted in vertical sleeves on the frame of thewheelbarrow.

[0006] Givens, U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,463, teaches a support attachment forease in side emptying a wheelbarrow and which includes a “U” shapedbracket positioned orthogonal to the front portion of a wheelbarrowwheel and the legs of the bracket extending along and attached toassociated front end locations of the wheelbarrow handles. Pharoah, U.S.Pat. No. 5,372,376 teaches a foldable wheelbarrow (see FIGS. 3a-3 d) andwhich collapses in the manner shown.

[0007] Armstrong, U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,843 teaches a power drivenwheelbarrow incorporating a pair of frame members connected at a frontportion thereof, a drive wheel rotatably mounted at the front portion ofthe frame members and a motor for providing rotational motion to a firstshaft about an axis having a direction substantially normal to adirection of an axis of rotation of the drive wheel. A sealed gear boxconverts the rotational motion provided by the first shaft to adirection substantially parallel to the direction of rotation of thedrive wheel and outputs the converted rotational motion. A rollerselectively engages and disengages the rotational motion output by thesealed gear box to and from the drive wheel.

[0008] Donze, U.S. Pat. No. 5,149,116 teaches a multi-wheel wheelbarrowwith a balanced center of gravity caused by the axis of the wheelbarrowbeing removably mounted in bearings and disposed at the front end of thewheelbarrow. The wheel axle is adapted to accommodate different wheelarrangements for use on different kinds of ground or terrain.

[0009] Porter, U.S. Pat. No. 4,789,171 teaches a multipurpose barrowvehicle which, similar to Eicher previously described, allows forforward tilting of the container carrying portion. Terhune, U.S. Pat.No. 4,767,128 teaches a modified wheelbarrow construction with abuilt-in and automatic brake assembly. Finally, Mattox, U.S. Pat. No.4,270,786 discloses a dumping wheelbarrow capable of providing a forwardtilt while maintaining the legs of the wheelbarrow on the ground. Thebarrow is pivoted at a forward barrow point and is caused to dump by theaction of a hydraulic piston affixed at one end to the frame and at theother end to the bottom of the barrow.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0010] The present invention discloses a tilting mechanism incorporatedinto a wheelbarrow, and which in particular operates to adjust an angleestablished by the bucket portion relative to an uneven or peakedsurface, such as is further typical of a peaked roof or the like. It isan objective of the invention to enable a wheelbarrow deviceincorporating the tilting mechanism to be utilized and supported upon apeaked roof or other uneven surface and by virtue of permitting theangular orientation, or tilt, of the bucket to be altered about itslongitudinal axis and relative to the angle or peak established by thesupport surface.

[0011] In a first preferred embodiment, the frame includes a base platefrom which extend bracket supports for securing the frame to selectedunderside locations of the elongated support handles associated with thewheelbarrow. An arcuate extending member, typically spring-biasing andessentially “U” shaped, is rotatably secured to the frame by means of across member, and supports the wheelbarrow device upon a surface.

[0012] An arcuate shaped gear plate is fixedly secured to the crossmember and arcuate extending member and is further rotatably secured tothe base plate by a rotational bearing. A spring loaded projectionextends through the main plate and engages a selected serrated edgelocation of the gear plate. The spring loaded projection is retractedfrom the gear plate, typically through the use of a pivotally securedand elongated handle, and in order to readjust the sideways angle ortilt of the wheelbarrow device relative to the longitudinal axisextending through the wheelbarrow and established with such as a peakedor inclined ground surface.

[0013] A secondary embodiment of the invention discloses the elongatedsupports as including first and second telescoping support legs andassociated first and second elongated and downwardly extending housingsfrom which the support legs telescope. Each of the support legs furtherincludes a plurality of spaced apart and axially extending apertures,the elongated housings each further incorporating an inwardly directedpin which seats within a selected support leg aperture and in order todefine an overall tilt associated with the wheelbarrow.

[0014] A brake cable actuating device is provided for successivelyadjusting each of the telescoping support legs. A clutch handle ismounted to a selected wheelbarrow handle, such that the brake cableextends from the clutch handle at a first end and connects to each ofthe pins at second spaced apart ends. In order to secure the frame tothe wheelbarrow, a pair of brackets extend angularly between thedownwardly extending housings and forwardly disposed locations of theelongated wheelbarrow handles, whereas a cross wise bracket extendsproximate an upper edge location of said frame and secures to additionallocations associated with the handles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read incombination with the following detailed description, wherein likereference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, andin which:

[0016]FIG. 1 is a frontal perspective view of the tilt mechanismincorporated into the wheelbarrow stand according to a first preferredembodiment of the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 2 is a side view of the tilt mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

[0018]FIG. 3 is front view of the tilting mechanism according to thepresent invention;

[0019]FIG. 4 is a top view of the tilting mechanism according to thepresent invention;

[0020]FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the tilt mechanism accordingto the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1;

[0021]FIG. 6 is an environmental view in perspective of the tiltingmechanism according to the present invention fitted to a conventionalwheelbarrow device;

[0022]FIG. 7 is a side view in section of a tilt mechanism according toa second preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

[0023]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the tilt mechanism according tothe second preferred embodiment and illustrating the brake cableactuating device for successively adjusting each of the telescopingwheelbarrow support legs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Referring now to FIGS. 1-6, a series of views are illustrated ofa tilt mechanism 10 incorporated into a wheelbarrow device, see furtherat 12 in FIG. 6, according to a first preferred embodiment of thepresent invention. As previously explained, the present inventiondiscloses a tilting mechanism incorporated into a wheelbarrow, and whichin particular operates to adjust an angle established by the bucketportion relative to an uneven or peaked surface, such as is furthertypical of a peaked roof or the like. It is also an objective of theinvention to enable a wheelbarrow device incorporating the tiltingmechanism to be utilized and supported upon a peaked roof or otheruneven surface and by virtue of permitting the angular orientation, ortilt, of the bucket to be altered about its longitudinal axis andrelative to the angle or peak established by the support surface.

[0025] As is further conventionally known in the art, the wheelbarrow 12includes a bucket portion 14 and a frame, further constructed of mainhandlebar members 16 and 18 and front wheel 20. As will be furtherdescribed in detail, the feature of the rear wheels is removed in theretrofitted wheelbarrow illustration of FIG. 6 and by which themechanism is operated to establish an overall tilt, as furtherillustrated by bi-directional and angled arrow 22 taken about alongitudinal axis extending through the wheelbarrow 12, and itsassociated front wheel 20. As is also evident from FIG. 6, and in thefirst preferred embodiment, the conventional rearwardly disposedsupports of the wheelbarrow are substituted by the supporting structureincorporated into the tilting mechanism.

[0026] In the first preferred embodiment, and referring again to each ofFIGS. 1-6, a frame associated with the tilting mechanism 10 isconstructed of a strong and durable material, typically a metal andincludes a base plate 24. The base plate 24 is preferably constructed ofa durable metal having a selected outline, in the illustrations of FIGS.1-6 being shown as a six-sided or hexagonal plate.

[0027] Bracket supports secure the frame to selected underside locationsof the elongated support handles associated with the wheelbarrow 12 andfurther such that the bucket portion 14 is disposed between the tiltingmechanism frame and the front wheel 20. The bracket supports include apair of elongated brackets 26 and 28 extending rearwardly from the baseplate 24, a cross wise bracket 30 extending proximate an upper edgelocation of the base plate 24. As illustrated, each of the bracketsupports 26, 28, and 30 include a substantially “L” shape in crosssection. As further best illustrated in FIG. 1, a plurality ofapertures, see further at 32, 34, and 36, respectively are provided forthe bracket supports 26, 28 and 30 and which, in combination with screwfasteners or the like, engage to the selected underside locations of thewheelbarrow handles 16 and 18, as further best shown in FIG. 6, and inorder to mount the tilting mechanism 10 to the wheelbarrow.

[0028] An arcuate extending member, typically a spring-biasing andessentially “U” shaped as illustrated at 38, is rotatably secured (aswill be shortly described) to the main plate 24 by means of a crossmember 40 and in order to support the wheelbarrow device upon a surface,such as again a peaked or inclined surface (not shown). The “U” shapedmember 38 includes a pair of downwardly directed and terminating ends,42 and 44, which engage upon the selected locations of the peaked orinclined surface. It is further understood that other possibleconfigurations can be substituted for the “U” shaped member and whichare constructed to both adequately support the wheelbarrow at itsrearward position, as well as permit its pivoting adjustment and as willnow be explained.

[0029] An arcuate shaped gear plate is illustrated at 46 and is fixedlysecured to the cross member 40 and arcuate extending member 38. The gearplate 46 exhibits any desirable configuration, further exhibiting suchas a rounded or arcuate shaped exterior surface, and is rotatablysecured to the base plate 24 by a heavy duty rotational bearing 48.

[0030] The gear plate 46 further exhibits a plurality of spaced apartand exteriorly facing serrations 50 extending along a lower arcuate edgethereof. A spring loaded projection 52 is mounted to a bracket 54 on afirst selected side of the base plate 24 and extends through a slot 56defined in the plate 24, in proximity to the serrated edges 50, and inorder to engage a selected serrated edge location of the gear plate 46.

[0031] The spring loaded projection 52 is retracted from contact withthe gear plate 46, typically through the use of a pivotally secured andelongated handle 58 being actuated in a direction indicated by arrow 60in FIGS. 1 and 6, and in order to readjust the sideways angle or tilt ofthe wheelbarrow 12 relative to the longitudinal axis 22 extendingthrough the wheelbarrow and established with such as a peaked orinclined ground surface. As further best shown in the perspective viewof FIG. 1, the bracket 54 provides the intermediate linkage between thehandle 58 and the projection 52 and typically houses the spring element(see at 55 in FIG. 1) necessary for establishing the biasing engagement.The projection 52 is further typically unseated from the gear plate 46upon being depressed by the user's foot and tilted in a given directionby the user's grip on the handles 16 and 18.

[0032] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, a secondary embodiment of the tiltingmechanism of the invention is illustrated at 62 according to the presentinvention. As is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, only the tiltingmechanism 62 is illustrated, along with the pair of elongated handles 16and 18 associated with the wheelbarrow, it being understood that theremaining components are the same as previously described.

[0033] The tilting mechanism 62 discloses the elongated supports asincluding first 64 and second 66 telescoping support legs and associatedfirst 68 and second 70 elongated and downwardly extending (interiorlyhollowed) housings from which the support legs 64 and 66 telescope. Eachof the support legs 64 and 66 further include a plurality of spacedapart and axially extending apertures, see at 72 and 74, respectively inFIG. 8. The elongated housings 68 and 70 each further incorporate aninwardly directed pin, see at 76 and 78, respectively, and which seatswithin a selected support leg aperture 72 and 74, in order to define anoverall tilt associated with the wheelbarrow. A brake cable actuatingdevice is generally referenced at 80 for successively adjusting each ofthe telescoping support legs 64 and 66. A clutch handle 82 is mounted toa selected wheelbarrow handle, such as handle 16 illustrated, andfurther such that a brake cable 84 associated with the cable actuatingdevice extends from the clutch handle 82 at a first end and operativelyconnects to each of the pins 76 and 78 at second split and spaced apartends 86 and 88.

[0034] In a preferred arrangement, the cable device 80 includes an outerinsulating sheath and one or more inner, flexible and axiallytranslatable wire elements for selectively withdrawing and reseating thepins 76 and 78 relative to selected apertures associated with eachdownwardly telescoping leg. It is further within the understanding ofthe present invention that the pins 76 and 78 are spring loaded (see at77 and 79 in FIG. 8) to their engaged position and further that the legsmay be hydraulically or pneumatically charged, as well as possiblespring-loaded in their downwardly telescoping direction, and so thatthey are influenced in a direction out of the outer housings 68 and 70upon retraction of the pins 76 and 78. As is also contemplated, thedownward force applied upon the legs 64 and 66, upon being released bythe pins 76 and 78, is counteracted by the tilting and collapsing forceapplied to a selected leg 64 or 66 by the user.

[0035] Finally, and in order to secure the frame to the wheelbarrow, apair of brackets 90 and 92 extend angularly between the downwardlyextending housings 68 and 70, respectively, and forwardly disposedlocations of the elongated wheelbarrow handles 16 and 18. A cross wisebracket 94 extends proximate an upper edge location of said frame, seein FIG. 8 extending from top edge locations of the housings 68 and 70,and secures to additional locations associated with the handles 16 and18. Additionally, a lower cross wise support is noted at 96 andcontributes to the integrity of the mechanism 62.

[0036] Having described my invention, additional preferred embodimentswill become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertainsand without deviating from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A tilting mechanism incorporated into a conventionalwheelbarrow, the wheelbarrow including a bucket portion, a pair ofelongated handles supporting the bucket portion, and a front wheel, saidtilting mechanism comprising: a frame adapted to being secured to arearwardly extending location of the elongated handles and such that thebucket portion is disposed between said frame and the front wheel; apair of elongated supports incorporated into said frame and, incombination with the front wheel, supporting the wheelbarrow upon asurface; and said frame being actuated to facilitate tilting of thebucket portion about a longitudinal axis extending through thewheelbarrow.
 2. The tilting mechanism as described in claim 1, saidframe further comprising a base plate from which extend supports formounting said frame to underside locations of the elongated wheelbarrowhandles.
 3. The tilting mechanism as described in claim 2, said mountingsupports further comprising a pair of brackets extending rearwardly fromsaid base plate, a cross wise bracket extending proximate an upper edgelocation of said base plate.
 4. The tilting mechanism as described inclaim 2, said elongated supports further comprising an arcuate extendingmember having first and second downwardly directed ends, a cross beamsecuring opposite sides of said arcuate extending member and in rotativefashion with said base plate.
 5. The tilting mechanism as described inclaim 4, further comprising an arcuate shaped gear plate secured to saidcross plate, a rotational bearing interconnecting said cross beam andgear plate with said base plate.
 6. The tilting mechanism as describedin claim 5, said gear plate further exhibiting a plurality of spacedapart serrations along a lower arcuate edge thereof, a slot formedthrough said base plate in proximity to said serrations and aspring-loaded projection extending through said slot and engaging aselected serration to define a specified tilt of the bucket portionrelative to the supporting surface.
 7. The tilting mechanism asdescribed in claim 6, further comprising an elongated handle pivotallysecured to said spring-loaded projection via a support tab extendingfrom a surface of the base plate.
 8. The tilting mechanism as describedin claim 1, said elongated supports further comprising first and secondtelescoping support legs.
 9. The tilting mechanism as described in claim8, further comprising first and second elongated and downwardlyextending housings from which said support legs telescope.
 10. Thetilting mechanism as described in claim 9, each of said legs furthercomprising a plurality of spaced apart and axially extending apertures,said elongated housings each further comprising an inwardly directed pinwhich seats within a selected support leg aperture and in order todefine an overall tilt associated with the wheelbarrow.
 11. The tiltingmechanism as described in claim 10, further comprising a brake cableactuating device for successively adjusting each of said telescopingsupport legs.
 12. The tilting mechanism as described in claim 11,further comprising a clutch handle mounted to a selected wheelbarrowhandle, said brake cable extending from said clutch handle at a firstend and connecting to said pins at second spaced apart ends.
 13. Thetilting mechanism as described in claim 9, further comprising a pair ofbrackets extending angularly between said downwardly extending housingsand forwardly disposed locations of the elongated wheelbarrow handles, across wise bracket extending proximate an upper edge location of saidframe and securing to additional locations associated with the handles.14. A tilting mechanism incorporated into a conventional wheelbarrow,the wheelbarrow including a bucket portion, a pair of elongated handlessupporting the bucket portion, and a front wheel, said tilting mechanismcomprising: a frame adapted to being secured to a rearwardly extendinglocation of the elongated handles and such that the bucket portion isdisposed between said frame and the front wheel, said frame furthercomprising a base plate from which extend supports for mounting saidframe to underside locations of the wheelbarrow handles, said supportsfurther including a pair of brackets extending rearwardly from said baseplate, a cross wise bracket extending proximate an upper edge locationof said base plate; a pair of elongated supports incorporated into saidframe and, in combination with the front wheel, supporting thewheelbarrow upon a surface, said elongated supports including an arcuatemember having first and second downwardly directed ends, a cross beamsecuring opposite sides of said arcuate extending member in rotativefashion with said base plate; and an arcuate shaped gear plate securedto said cross plate, a rotational bearing interconnecting said crossbeam and gear plate with said base plate, a spring loaded projectionengaging said gear plate; said projection being actuated relative tosaid gear plate to facilitate tilting of the bucket portion about alongitudinal axis extending through the wheelbarrow.
 15. A tiltingmechanism incorporated into a conventional wheelbarrow, the wheelbarrowincluding a bucket portion, a pair of elongated handles supporting thebucket portion, and a front wheel, said tilting mechanism comprising: aframe adapted to being secured to a rearwardly extending location of theelongated handles and such that the bucket portion is disposed betweensaid frame and the front wheel; a pair of elongated supportsincorporated into said frame and, in combination with the front wheel,supporting the wheelbarrow upon a surface, said elongated supportsfurther comprising first and second telescoping support legs, first andsecond elongated and downwardly extending housings associated with saidframe and from which said support legs telescope; and a brake cableactuating device operatively connecting to each of said telescopingsupports and being actuated to facilitate tilting of the bucket portionabout a longitudinal axis extending through the wheelbarrow.